If you do not have F-Secure installed and see fsd.exe or similar variations in your Task Manager, it could be:
Using fsutil to force volume dismount (unlocks all handles):
fsutil volume dismount C:
Warning: This will forcefully close all open files; unsaved data will be lost.
Using chkdsk /f – Checks for and removes orphaned exclusive lock references in the metadata.
In Windows, the built-in tool fsutil (File System Utility) can be used to query or modify file system behavior. To simulate exclusive access, you might use: fsdexe exclusive
fsutil volume dismount C:
Or for file-level exclusive access:
using (FileStream fs = new FileStream("file.txt", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))
// Exclusive access
Method 1: Identify and Pause the Offending Service
Run msconfig or services.msc. Look for services known to hook into the file system: backup agents, antivirus, encryption software (BitLocker, VeraCrypt). Stop the service gracefully.
Method 2: Use Sysinternals Handle.exe
From an elevated command prompt:
handle.exe -a -p System -f "C:\path\to\locked\file"
handle.exe -c 0x1234 -p 1234
The -c flag closes the specific handle (use only if you understand the risks).
Method 3: Boot into Safe Mode
Safe Mode loads only critical drivers, bypassing most third-party file system filters. Once in Safe Mode, you can delete, move, or modify the locked resource. If you do not have F-Secure installed and see fsd
FSDExe Exclusive is designed for the digital purist. It is a rejection of the "good enough" standard. In a world of infinite copies, this is the authenticated original. It is not for everyone—it is for those who require the assurance that their digital tools are as precise as their ambitions.
Status: Restricted. Access: Serialized.
In operating systems like Windows, a file system driver (often named something like fsd.sys or fsdexe.sys in theory) manages how data is read from and written to a storage volume. When the term exclusive is applied to such a component, it typically refers to exclusive volume access or exclusive file handle mode.
An improperly implemented exclusive lock at the fsdexe level can lead to deadlocks. If Driver A waits for Driver B, and Driver B waits for the same exclusive lock held by Driver A, the system freezes → Blue Screen of Death (Bugcheck 0x27: RDR_FILE_SYSTEM or 0x76: PROCESS_HAS_LOCKED_PAGES). Using fsutil to force volume dismount (unlocks all
If you intended to write fsd.exe (where the "exe" refers to an executable file), this usually refers to a legitimate system process or, in some cases, malware masking itself as a system process.